| US 7,540,183 B2 | ||
| Methodology of monitoring a device to ascertain gas leakage therefrom | ||
| Nikolaos I. Komninos, Littleton, Colo. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Radiaulics, Inc., Littleton, Colo. (US) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 18, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/378,446. | ||
| Application 11/378446 is a continuation of application No. 10/735520, filed on Dec. 12, 2003, granted, now 7,051,577. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0174696 A1, Aug. 10, 2006 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. G01M 3/04 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 73—40.5A [73/23.2] | 12 Claims |
| 1. A method of monitoring a device to ascertain leakage of a gas therefrom, comprising:
a. providing a gas sensor that is operative upon exposure to the gas to generate a corresponding gas detection input signal;
b. illuminating an area in a vicinity of the gas with ultraviolet light, thereby to cause the gas or its residue to fluoresce;
c. exposing said gas sensor to the gas whereby said gas sensor generates said gas detection input signal;
d. processing said gas detection input signal to produce at least one output signal in response thereto;
e. providing an acoustic emissions (AE) sensor that is operative upon exposure to airborne sound emanating from the device
that is attendant with leakage of the gas to generate a corresponding sound detection input signal; and
f. exposing said AE sensor to the gas whereby said AE sensor generates said sound detection input signal.
|